Washington (CNN) – Democratic Rep. Chris Murphy holds an early 11-point lead in a new poll over Republican Linda McMahon, a former WWE executive, in the race to fill Connecticut Sen. Joe Liebermann’s vacated seat in 2012.

The new Quinnipiac survey shows Murphy leading McMahon, who has not yet officially declared her candidacy, 49 percent to 38 percent in the hypothetical race. Though Murphy also leads former Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz 36 percent to 26 percent in the Democratic primary, Bysiewicz leads McMahon in the general election 46 percent to 38 percent.

With a year to the primary, however, 35 percent of Democrats are undecided on their nominee.

“There is a lot of room for movement because about a third of Democrats are undecided, reflecting the large percentages who don't have an opinion of either candidate,” Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz said.

McMahon, who lost her bid for Senate in 2010, leads former Connecticut Rep. Chris Shays, who declared his Republican candidate August 22, 50 percent to 35 percent in the hypothetical GOP primary.

"In the Republican primary, Linda McMahon's name recognition advantage over former U.S. Rep. Chris Shays helps give her an early 15 point lead,” Schwartz said. “Before she turns on the vaunted McMahon money machine.”

McMahon challenged Democrat Richard Blumenthal in 2010, and though some polls had her within 3 percent at times, Blumenthal ended up defeating McMahon by 11 percent. She ended up spending $50 million of her own money on the campaign.

Since the loss, McMahon has maintained a wide TV and political presence and her name recognition is high in Connecticut.

Lieberman, an independent senator who caucuses with the Democrats, is retiring from the Senate after 22 years. He was a candidate for vice president when he ran with Al Gore in 2000.

The election will be held November 6, 2012 and the Cook Political Report labels it a “likely democratic” race.

Quinnipiac conducted the poll from Sep. 8 – 13 and surveyed 1,230 registered voters of the phone. The poll has a sampling error of plus or minus 2.8 percent.

soundoff(23 Responses)

As GM goes, so goes the country...Unions/Democrats killed GM, now they are killing the country

Hopefully the people of Conn. will come to their senses and vote Republican. If it can happen in NY, there is hope it can happen everywhere. Voting for a Democrat these days is like voting for Fidel Castro. The party is so far left it is scary.... and destructive for the country.

September 16, 2011 12:33 pm at 12:33 pm |

AquiNow

Awhhh! Did everyone catch the humanitarian ad "WHAT IF EVERYONE CARED" right on the POLITICS section? We Care. We Care.

September 16, 2011 12:36 pm at 12:36 pm |

Rudy NYC

Linda McMahon is the former executive for a reason. The company declined during her tenure. She stuck to outdated business models and failed as a CEO at WWE. Ask her how many employees they had when she began as CEO compared to when she left. Ditto that for gross sales. Ditto that for net profits. Ditto that for her salary.

September 16, 2011 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |

What?!

To GM guy - "Far left"? Ha! I should be so lucky. The moderate, spineless Democrats in Washington are Republican Light.

September 16, 2011 12:52 pm at 12:52 pm |

John

She need to stay where to what she know, and It Isn't politics. that the trouble we have now, that the Tea Party putting people In office that don't know what they are doing. If People keep this up thing are only going to get worse.

September 16, 2011 12:54 pm at 12:54 pm |

Vigla

As GM goes... Since GM is making wonderful profits and expanding, I guess we must be doing just fine. If you are looking for destruction, you only need look at the presidency of GWB. Did you think we forgot about him? Mr. deregulation and tax cuts? What did that get us? Yeah, I'll take liberal policies vs. those stupid conservative policies (that clearly failed) anytime.

All people need to do is take a look at the Repbulican accomplishments in the Senate and House to know how to vote. They have accomplished nothing beyond getting America's bond rating lowered and creating uncertainty for our economy. We do not need another political terrorist in the Congress.

September 16, 2011 01:02 pm at 1:02 pm |

Robert

As GM Trolls, So Does His Country –
Dude, Michelle Bachmann is so far right that she's the new left and Obama is now dragged to the center.

September 16, 2011 01:09 pm at 1:09 pm |

John

GOp destroyed the country under Bush and now they want to do it again.

September 16, 2011 01:09 pm at 1:09 pm |

The Real Tom Paine

If she could not get elected in a Republican year, and with the current disapproval rating of the Republicans in Congress approaching or at an all-time high, than she is wasting her time. What does she bring to the table that has changed in the last year, aside from a new appreciation of the fact that money does not always buy access?

September 16, 2011 01:13 pm at 1:13 pm |

once upon a horse

@ As GM goes....
yeah I agree voting for a Dem is scary which is why the Republicans are polling at a lower approval rate nationwide than the Dems. Check it out or like most righties I guess facts don't matter to you either.

September 16, 2011 01:14 pm at 1:14 pm |

Rudy NYC

"Hopefully the people of Conn. will come to their senses and vote Republican."
-------------
Why would they want to do that when everyone can clearly and plainly see that putting Republicans in charge this year has meant rising unemployment and economic slow down.

September 16, 2011 01:33 pm at 1:33 pm |

Johnson

TO As GM goes, so goes the country...Unions/Democrats killed GM, now they are killing the country

If u were high on somethng, GM is profitable and making good money; u would be begging on the streets if GM and Chrysler are not bailed out. You ignorant bum...wake up.

September 16, 2011 01:48 pm at 1:48 pm |

Donkey Party

Anyone that votes for a Republican should be tried and shot for treason, for giving comfort and aid to the GOP / Teabagger domestic terrorists.

September 16, 2011 01:54 pm at 1:54 pm |

Sandy

So if she wins will Republicans say this is a referendum on them, like they said Democrats losing Weiner's seat was a referendum on Obama?

September 16, 2011 02:02 pm at 2:02 pm |

Al-NY,NY

No way Mrs. "Sleeper Hold" gets anywhere near the Senate. She bombed last time and will do the same this time. As for the usual tripe put out by "as GM goes..." voting for a republican these days is like voting for the Taliban. You say Democrats are like Fidel Castro. Republicans are like the Ayatollah.

September 16, 2011 02:03 pm at 2:03 pm |

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ

What does she really have to offer Conn? There can't be anything more than when she ran the last time. She comes from a business that had some questionable practices. She seems to think that she can walk into the Senate and get people to do what she wants. That is what an executive does., isn't it? The fact that she spent $50 million dollars is frightning. I don't like the use of so much money in a political race; don't like that much in any race.

September 16, 2011 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |

Marjee123

The ego of this woman is really really out there. The people showed over whelmingly they didn't want her, but she continues to push her self out there. Why doesn't McMahon give her a whip and chair and turn her loose in the wrestlying ring and be done with it.

September 16, 2011 02:12 pm at 2:12 pm |

ron

How is this news? A undeclared candidate trails 2 Democrats for a Dem seat? Maybe after NY it is news that Democrats are leading.

September 16, 2011 02:29 pm at 2:29 pm |

Little Jimmy Truth

Please bring Abe Washington!!!

September 16, 2011 02:37 pm at 2:37 pm |

I"m with u

I"m glad that crook joe lie-man is leaving he is a snake in the grass.